How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

General discussion about learning languages
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Tristano
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How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby Tristano » Mon May 22, 2017 10:50 am

Hi,
have you ever needed to freeze a language at a beginner state, meaning not to study it actively for some year and not losing what you studied? Without studying another language of the same family. Thanks
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Saim
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby Saim » Mon May 22, 2017 11:41 am

I imagine there's not much you can do but revision of basic materials.
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DangerDave2010
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby DangerDave2010 » Mon May 22, 2017 12:04 pm

I have three languages on hold, two of which I'd count as beginner. The only thing I do is to watch cartoons or tv series every once in a while (perhaps an average of once a moth or so). There has been some passive learning going on even with this low level of input, as my listening comprehension has been improving.
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby Serpent » Mon May 22, 2017 1:42 pm

SRS can keep it frozen forever, but at some point this becomes too boring. Try to do something like music as well. I've been trying to recover my Indonesian with Criminal Case now :)

My only advice is to find the hidden connections. If it's about Hebrew, try to learn more about the Arabic influences on Spanish and other Romance languages, and maybe look up the corresponding Hebrew words.
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby zenmonkey » Mon May 22, 2017 5:17 pm

I think it is a nice idea but likely fails in execution. You are either learning or you are forgetting.

In the words of Mr Miyagi...

Image

Learn language ok, no learn language ok.
Walk in the middle of the road. Squish like grape.

Ok, more seriously, the reason I say the above is that, it has been my experience that a) the effort to maintain a beginner language is high and almost as high as learning b) entropy grabs you and if you slip a little then it becomes harder, entropy grabs a little more ...
c) it eats up too much volition and creates frustration - carrying out activity just to spin your wheels.

It's ok to say, "I'm going to let this go for now" and focus on something else. Regrets show that you've made choices.

But on the other hand, if you succeed in freezing a language with minimal effort let us know, because I'd love to be wrong.
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby reineke » Mon May 22, 2017 10:56 pm

More resistant to decay, advanced skills are.
Yes, hmmm.
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby Tristano » Tue May 23, 2017 8:52 am

reineke wrote:More resistant to decay, advanced skills are.
Yes, hmmm.
Young padawan, much to learn you still have
Pimsleur Level II redo you must.


Pimsleur Level II lo rifaccio corca. :twisted:
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby William Camden » Tue May 23, 2017 9:59 am

My favourite Yoda-related comment is from that charmingly light-hearted comedy film Se7en: "Just because the f*****'s got a library card doesn't make him Yoda."
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Tristano
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Re: How to freeze a language at a beginner state?

Postby Tristano » Tue May 23, 2017 2:11 pm

I'm afraid I agree with you @zenmonkey.
So my best shoot is to continue until an intermediate level and from time to time use easy native resources...
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